Sad scenes at funeral of Irish emigrant Jill Meagher in Australia

29 white doves, one for every year of her life were released during the funeral
Photo by: AU News

The husband of Jill Meagher paid a poignant tribute to his wife who was buried in Melbourne today.
Jill, a native of Drogheda, County Louth and emigrant to Australia was raped and murdered when walking home from a local pub two weeks ago.

Her alleged killer was caught accosting her on closed circuit TV. Her case created massive publicity and 30,000 people took part in a peace march in her name.

Calling her his “beautiful and funny girl” Tom Meagher stated, “Jill was never happier than when she was making other people laugh...Goodbye my beautiful, funny girl I'll love you forever."

Her father, George McKeon, read a card sent to their daughter in 2004 after she began travelling the world.

"It hard to be apart from you," he read.

"So many of my thoughts are of you.

"Each night when the world is quiet and still, your smile and the wonderful moments we have shared crowd my mind.

"Then I find myself missing you even more."

Jill’s mother Edith spoke of her ‘‘goofy’’ daughter who was loved by all

“She was a messy creature and was as clumsy as hell, but she had style, saying she was known for her fabulous shoe collection.

“These crazy shoes that you’re all wearing, can you walk in them?’’ she asked, to laughs from the congregation.

A friend of Jill’s named Aoife told of Jill’s funny side:“She is the only person I've ever encountered who ever literally slipped on a banana peel, and she was proud of it," Aoife said.

Aoife read a quote from Martin Luther King, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

Outside, 29 white doves, one for every year of her life were released. Her husband collapsed in tears when the doves flew away.